Phototransformation of oat phytochrome with millisecond and submillisecond flashes: The level of the photostationary Pfr/Ptot ratio is modified by photoreversible intermediates

Photoconversion of the red-absorbing form of phytochrome (P_r) to the far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome (P_fr) and vice versa has been measured spectrophotometrically at 10°C in immobilized and soluble phytochrome (118 kdalton), prepared from 5-day-old etiolated oat seedlings ( Avena saliva L. cv. Sol II). The photostationary equilibrium φ= P_frP_tot (with P_tot= total amount of phytochrome P_r+ P_fr) for red light depends on whether it is established by repetitive pulses (≥ 5 s) or by repetitive flashes (≥ 4 ms). In the wavelength region around 660 nm, a lower φ is reached with flashes as compared to that with pulses. This difference becomes negligible if the wavelength is shortened to the 600 nm region, and it also disappears if the fluence of each individual flash is reduced. In contrast, in long-wavelength red light and short-wavelength far-red light, a higher φ is reached with flashes than with pulses.
We relate the differences in φ for flash and pulse irradiation to photochromic systems between P_r and photoreversible intermediates in the phototransformation pathway P_r→ P_fr. Thus, light absorption by phytochrome intermediates can be limiting for the quantitative relationship between light signal and P_fr formed.